TimeOut

Hi there,

I was wondering if you had any luck locating the Nemoto knives for sale in So Cal.

I placed custom order with the company and never had answer from them.

Anybody here can help me place order in Japanese language?

Thank you

Carl

I was in fact wondering whether you ever got to placing an order for one of his knives! Sadly, I am not yet able to place one myself and as I previously posted, the only way to acquire one would be to order it through Nemoto's official website which is exactly what you appear to have done. The question you are asking is precisely the one that I would like to know myself - do you have to place an order in English or in Japanese? Perhaps he doesn't speak English and an order has to be written in Japanese? This is something only someone in Japan can help us with. Fellow member KIH who lives in Tokyo has been tremendously kind and helped me out with some art books and perhaps he wouldn't mind sending an e-mail or making a phone call to check what their company's policy is? In any case, I very much look forward to learning what the answer is! PS - here is the original thread on his custom knives for those who have not seen it previously - timeout.watchprosite.com This message has been edited by Adamska on 2011-02-26 20:51:58

...what is the practical application for knives such as these?

 

Cheers,

pplater.

if you work on any sort of crafts they can come in very handy, and also if you practice hunting. Other than that they are so exquisitely crafted that I'd be completely content to hang them on a wall as a work of art .

Cheers,

Filip

...but how does one 'practice' hunting? Hunting what? 

What really motivated the question was the description (in your original post - great post, BTW) of an axe as being a 'tactical' axe. A what???? What's 'tactical' about an axe????

 

Cheers,

pplater.

non-endangered animals (legally permitted). This isn't something that I do but I know several people who do so on a frequent basis. Also, I should add all sorts of outdoor adventures (camping etc.). The term 'tactical' in the description most likely refers to military application/use.

Hi Adamska,

Beautiful knives and yes, they can be used for hunting. Like all knives.

I have been trained to hunt and guide hunters professionally in Africa and I have hunted nearly everything possible in four Continents. Based what I know about hunting, I would say that these knives will work but they are not optimal. In hunting (mammals) you need two kinds of knives for skinning (very important if trophies are made), then a special type on knive for the opening work and gutting, a very good knive for cutting the meat and perhaps a "tactical axe", a bone saw or a massive knive for the bone work.

Many hunters carry really nice knives and that includes me. But these knives in reality are mostly for cutting a nice slices of salami on the campfires.

Real hunting knives for real work are strongly built tools but there are other ways to use nicely made knives. It is a bit same than if I guide divers: it is very unlikely that I would wear my Platinum Tribute to Polaris - probably rather a Sinn U1. But still I love my Polaris' a lot and I have other use for those than diving or waking me up. Same story with nice knives and I agree, the best ones are works of art.

Best, Kari

much more about hunting than I do . Thank you for the educational information, even though I've never been hunting up to this point I plan on going at some time in the future with one of the family friends who practices it regularly (I believe he likes to hunt small animals). As you perfectly understand, for those who deeply appreciate extraordinary craftsmanship it is enough fulfillment to have an exquisite knife as an ornament if nothing else, and it can as you say always be put to good use cutting salami . Really nice analogy regarding the diving watch use .

Cheers,

Filip

We hunters and divers are crazy! I have some fantastic hunting weapons with unique hand engravings on the (side)locks, gold inlays and incredible wood. But for the bush I am always taking a "field" fifle or shotgun. The same with knives and watches.

Have a nice Sunday!

Kari

....that 'tactical' was a another term for Black. Never seen anything referred to as 'tactical' that wasn't.

 

Or more cruelly (quote nicked from a dive forum - yes, there's 'tactical' dive stuff, like this 'SEAL' snorkel):

"Tactical=Marketing strategy to ensnare the mall ninja crowd."

of course the term is plastered on to certain products in order to make them sound appealing to specific target groups . As I said, and as you surely know, when it comes to serious items such as high-end blades the term is added to those which have potential military application. Anyway, for those who don't know the definition here it is: - of or relating to combat tactics.

...and that definition is the very reason I steer away from anything with that appellation.

 

 

[That snorkel doesn't just have a potential military application, it once had an NSN! Snorkels are now open for the unit to choose according to the ANU list]

. . . ;-) . . .

funniest thing I've seen in quite some time . Comedy gold!

... "tactical" with "tactless".

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

. . . hmmm . . . I'll have to mull that one over. 

Tacitly, Art

... about helping you out with this "knives" stuff, actually I DO mind.  I do NOT mind helping people in any way for other stuff at all - books, tours, or toys, etc., but these "weaponry", I do not want to be involved.  Sorry!  I understand that these may be in the form of "art", but in this case, no....

Hope you understand.
Ken

not a problem at all, some people find it a sensitive topic and have the right to think so. I am not sure how people in Japan in general view blade craftsmanship, but it is certainly one of the most prominent cultural treasures that your country has so there must be a good part of the population who hold pride and honor in it. I don't know anyone who is Japanese here aside from you so I'm not sure if anyone else can write a couple of sentences in the language to send a question to the company. Thanks for your input, have a great week!

Filip

... that having any type of guns or weapon knives is illegal in Japan, except for those with licenses which is still very restrictive and hard to get.  Cooking knives and certain types are exception, of course.  To us, those artistic knives, while we appreciate the heritage and tradition, including beautiful Katana should be in the muserum.  Sorry, but that is how we were taught and grew up.  There may be a perception gap here, but I have never met anyone in Japan who actually likes, talks about it, owns or collects those knives, aside from the Yakuza in the movies or comics .  Of course, I have never seen them in a metal outside the museums.  I think those are much more popular outside Japan than in Japan.

Besides, it is said that even the legal type of knives - domestic manufacturers, importers, resellers, and past purchasers alike - are under close watch and surveilance of the police and other national security agencies because it IS the weapon of certain percentage of crimes and murders.  Unlike watches, people can and do get hurt and killed by these, intentionally or unintentionally. 

That is clearer reason for me not want to get involved.  I apologize.  It is perfectly Okay to have such a hobby, but over here, I wouldn't want to be put on the "black list" of the police by even contacting them! 

Ken

I only admire the modern design, craftsmanship and materials used, when Mr. Nemoto makes his knives, and as a collector of knives I wanted to have one of his pieces in my collection.

I don't think  that I ever cut anything with any of my knives  anyway No scratches on the blades.

I used to collect vinyl LP's and some of them I never pulled out of plastic so I never listened to them. Weird, right?

Interesting information about the knives beeing illegal weapons in Japan, didn't know anything about it.

Thank you all for your responses.

Carl

I know very well about the law that prevents civilian gun ownership there, but don't know about any restrictions in relation to knife purchasing. The only requirement listed on Nemoto's website is that you have to be 18-20 years of age to order a knife and provide documentation which proves that. That's all. The knives from Nemoto are made as showcases of what one of the highest regarded blade craftsman over there can achieve. As any other type of knife it can potentially be used in illegal manners and there is obviously no difference which particular knife it is when it comes to terrible circumstances like that. In fact, the people who purchase this specific sort of knives are nearly all collectors who admire them immensely and rarely if ever use them. These are a thousand + dollar works of art and there's a good chance that there has never been a crime committed with one of his knives. If it is true that the police blacklists any individual who purchases a knife over there (I find it hard to believe) those are truly over-the-top measures (imo). I know that there are blade shows there where customers can purchase all sorts of exquisite blades so I will try to learn more about what potential legal obstacles exist because I will definitely order one of his knives and would like to make the process as efficient as it could be when the time comes. Thanks for your input Ken because it is always one of quality, and I couldn't possibly have any issue with the fact that the circumstances there are different.

Best,

Filip This message has been edited by Adamska on 2011-02-27 23:03:10